That is the headline for
this MSNBC news story. What the hell IS the matter with Kansas?? And can we vote them out of the Union?
First they decide to teach Intelligent Design in SCIENCE class, and now a high school in Kansas has decided that no language except English may be spoken within its walls. Um, does that mean they're going to drop all foreign languages from the curriculum? If not, should kids be barred from practicing the language their studying OUTSIDE the specified classroom? "Hey! Are you speaking LATIN??!! This is an English-only school zone, Bucko!"
It started out innocently enough -- quoting Zach Rubio, the bilingual student who was suspended:
This kid I know, he's like, 'Me prestas un dolar?' ['Will you lend me a dollar?'] Well, he asked in Spanish; it just seemed natural to answer that way. So I'm like, 'No problema.' "
Hell, I don't even speak Spanish and I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I've responded "no problema"!
But that conversation turned out to be a big problem for the staff at the Endeavor Alternative School, a small public high school in an ethnically mixed blue-collar neighborhood. A teacher who overheard the two boys sent Zach to the office, where Principal Jennifer Watts ordered him to call his father and leave the school.
Watts, whom students describe as a disciplinarian, said she can't discuss the case. But in a written "discipline referral" explaining her decision to suspend Zach for 1 1/2 days, she noted: "This is not the first time we have [asked] Zach and others to not speak Spanish at school."
Since then, the suspension of Zach Rubio has become the talk of the town in both English and Spanish newspapers and radio shows. The school district has officially rescinded his punishment and said that speaking a foreign language is not grounds for suspension. Meanwhile, the Rubio family has retained a lawyer, who says a civil rights lawsuit may be in the offing.
Civil rights lawsuit?? I should hope so! Zach's father is a US citizen who immigrated here from Mexico, and who has lived in Kansas City for 25 years. So, unlike some legal or illegal aliens, he's not afraid to be vocal.
Rubio, a U.S. citizen, credits U.S. immigration law for his decision to fight his son's suspension.
"You can't just walk in and become a citizen," he said. "They make you take this government test. I studied for that test, and I learned that in America, they can't punish you unless you violate a written policy."
Rubio said he remembered that lesson on Nov. 28, when he received a call from Endeavor Alternative saying his son had been suspended.
"So I went to the principal and said, 'My son, he's not suspended for fighting, right? He's not suspended for disrespecting anyone. He's suspended for speaking Spanish in the hall?' So I asked her to show me the written policy about that. But they didn't have" one.
. . .
Said Rubio: "I'm mainly doing this for other Mexican families, where the legal status is kind of shaky and they are afraid to speak up. Punished for speaking Spanish? Somebody has to stand up and say: This is wrong."
God bless him!
There is also a link to a poll in the story that asks the question, "Should Zach have been suspended?" To my total disbelief/disgust, a whopping 37% say yes, he should (feel free to FREEP!). On what planet are these people living??!! So much for the season of "peace on earth and good will to all."
Stay strong! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!